Improvement in corsets



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l. W. ASKIE.

Corsets.

Patented Feb. 3,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN \V. ASKIE, OF CHARLESTO'VN, MASSACHITSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSE-rs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,976, (lated February 3,1874; application `tiled December 23, 187:3.

l'o all Iullom yit lmuy concern:

Be it known that I, Jornv NV. Asian, of Charlestown, in the county ot' Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Corsets, ot' which the following is adeseription sutiiciently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany-- ing drawing forming a part ot' this specification, in which- Figure l is a rear elevation ot' my improved corset. Fig. 2 is a front elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Like letters refer to like parts in the ditleren-t figures of the drawing.

My invention relates to that class ot' corsets which are provided with skii tsupporters or bustles; and consists in a new construction and arrangement ot the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth; the object being to provide a better-litting and more durable corset of this description than has heretofore been furnished.

In Fig. 1, A B is the body of the corset. C is the skirt-supporter or bustle; D D', the sidegore elastics; E E', the front straps; F F', the shoulder-straps; 'G G', the back-gore elastics; ymy m, the front lacings; c c', buckles for the straps E E', a, the slot or aperture for the strap E', M M', t-he portion of the corsets in which the zine stays or supports are disposed; a n and r i" slots or apertures, throughwhich the straps F F' pass; u r, the zine ribs; .e a, the bust-supporting eyelets; and k k' the bustgores. The body A D of my improved corset is formed of one piece of cloth, from which the bust or bosom gores LL' and side and back gores are afterward eut, a-nd is provided with a lining, between which and said body the ribs and stays or stitteners are sewed or quilted., TheV front stays are of zinc, and are provided with eyelets on' on' and lacings m m, also Woven or fastened in eyelets, as shown. 'I here are also a series of lateral zinc ribs, e e, in the back, anda series of vertical'whalebone sta-ys, f f f ff, in the sides. The back and hip :gores are, respectively, provided with the laterally-arranged elastic straps G G' D D', the ends of which are secinely-t'astened in ing crossed inside the corset at ar, as shown by'l the dotted lines in Fig. l, passing out of the holes n a', and being secured by the buckles p p', Fig. 2. This arrangement otl the skrt supporter C permits it to be raised or lowered with great vfacility to any desired position, and throws the weight ofthe skirts uponthe straps F F' when the strap (l is unbuttoned-an iinportant desideratum.

In all corsets the greatest strain in fasten- .ing is brought to bear upon the center or waist. I therefore provide the double straps E E', buckles c c', and slot or oblong hole a at that point, arranged as shown in Fig. L'. By this nieans each section or ring ot" the corset is buckled firmly to the other, andthe strap E', by passing to its buckle through the hole a under the front stay M, instead ot' over it, is, in a large measure, prevented from wearing out at that point.

In the use of the zine stays M M', instead ot' steel or other metal, I obtain a corset which will yield readily and form itself to the person at that point withoutfeeling uncomfortable to the wearer, the semi-elasticity of the zinc rendering it superior to any other substance with which I am acquainted for that purpose. There is also a great advantage in cutting or forming the body of the corset from one piece, as shown in Fig. 1, as it dispenses with seams and lacings to a great extent, while the homogeneity of the material adds to the durability in wearing, and gives a better-fitting garment, A

The object ofthe elastics D D' G G' will be readily understood and appreciated by all ladies who have worn corsets with unyielding gores at these points, as they allow the corset to yield to the form readily, and cause it to lit with ease over the hips or back.

The eyelets z a are provided for the purpose of attaching the ordinary busts or forms,7 which are usually pinned to the corsets, and are liable to be lost ott' or become detached.

ln all corsets heretofore constructed with which I am acquainted, the eyelets for the fnstenin or lacings have been inserted in the cloth alone. In my improved corset I insert the eyelets my m not only in the cloth, but in the zinc stays M M', by which they are re-enforced, or prevented from tearing out, as in the ordinary construction. Corsets are also usually fastened by a single cord, interlaced in a series of eyelets, and arranged in the front. This renders it difficult to put on and take off the garment, and soon wears out the lacing. I provide, in addition to the straps E ll, several short cords orlaeings ready th readed in eyelets, as shown at m my, by which the corsets can be readily and rml y fastened at the top and bottom, and more readily adjusted to tit vthe person than where a single cord interlaced. as described, is used.

lt is well known that the ends of the bone and metallic staysin corsets soon wear through and destroy the cloth with which they are surrounded. To obviate this I cover the ends of the stays in my improved corset with a rubber sheath, as shown at s, Fig. 1, which prevents this and renders the corset milch more durable.

The ribs /U r are not only valuable for keeping the corset in position', but are also of great importance in a sanitary point of view, in affording support to the wearer in cases of weak back and spinal affections.

From the above description, it will be seen, by all conversant with such matters, that my improved corset presents many points of excellence over any corset now in the market.

I a 1n aware th at Letters Patentof the United States were granted to one Vanorstrand, December 19, 1871, numbered 122,081, in which a corset having shoulder-straps, side elastics, and also a detachable bustle or skirt-supporter, are shown and described; also, that Letters latent were granted to one Griswold, July 10, 1866, and reissued June 20, 1871 numbered 4,427,in which shoulder-straps and other parts common to nearly all corsets are shown; also, that one Lamoureux applied for Letters Patent for an improvement in corsets, which application was tiled November 19, 1858, in which a corset having shoulder-straps and a bustle and skirt-supporter is described; but in said Letters Patent and application the devices shown are essentially different from my invention, and I, therefore,-do not claimv anything shown or described therein when in and of itself considered. I am also aware that a patent was granted to one Foy, September 15, 1863, No. 39,910, in which a whole corset, or a corset in which the body is cut in one continu ons piece, is described; and I do not, therefore, claim such a corset in and of itself considered. I am also aware that zinc stays, such as described, are in common use; and I, therefore, do not claim the same in and of themselves considered. I am also aware that a patent was granted to 011e Smith, April 27, 1869, in which side and back elastics are described; and I, therefore, do not claim the same when in and of themselves considered. Neither do I claim the eyelets z z for attaching pads to a corset, nor the eyelets m m and lacings m m for fastening a corset, as the same have long been used for that purpose. I am also aware that in English Patent No. 5,243, granted in 1825, a corset is described having ribs substantially the same as the ribs u o also, that in English Patent No. 1,883, granted in 1865, a corset is described in which the ribs are pro videdA with sheaths or tips substantially the same as the rubber sheath or tip s; I there fore do not herein claim the ribs o c, nor the tip s, when in and of themselves considered. I am also aware that it is not new to use lacings for fastening corsets, nor metallic stays and elastics in the same, and therefore do not claim any of these when in and of themselves considered; but

What I do claim is- 1. The detachable skirt-su1 porter cr bustle C, shoulder-straps F F', and corset A B, coinbined and arranged substantially and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corset, the straps E E buckles C (if, and slot a., combined and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A corset provided with the slots r o" a al, substantiallyr as and for the purpose speeiiied.

JOHN XV. ASKIE.

IVi tnesses:

Oris T. GARIN, I-I. E. .W'Inrenmm 

